M.C. Higgins is Great

After today's discussion of "difficulty" in reading literature and the reading of Virginia Hamilton's M.C. Higgins, the Great, my ability to accept challenges I face when reading has reached a knew level of understanding. Up until reading M.C. Higgins I did not think that reading "children's literature" could pose as something difficult for a college level student like myself. However, I did hold the belief that children's literature had the power to challenge readers on all levels. A book that I had never heard of and most likely would not have ever read, M.C. Higgins, the Great has undoubtedly become one of the most influential books I have read in this class and possibly my entire semester.

As I addressed in class, the first three pages posed to be the biggest "difficulty" I was forced to battle through in the text. I quickly began to question my ability to get through the entire book. In having to re-read sentences, paragraphs and entire pages over and over again, I found myself wondering how children would deal with this challenge. What I do know is how I would have dealt with it as a child and that would have been closing the book and putting it on the shelf. After Molly addressed the fact that a book's challenging of the reader can related to an individual difficulty, I was able to start confronting my dilemma head on. While I initially thought it was the vocabulary that made the first three pages so difficult for me, dwelling on the topic after class and while preparing for this blog I have come to think of various other possibilities of why I found those pages so difficult. Regardless of whether it is difficult vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation, word choice and placement, or tone pace, an exact pin-pointing of what is so difficult can only be uncovered through more confrontations with texts that challenge me.

I am glad that I had the opportunity to read a story I had never read, much less heard of and that it resulted in such a positive reading experience for me. The ability to recognize a text as challenging and facing the difficulties it presents directly has not only made me a more careful reader but a more knowledgeable individual as a whole.

The Power of Love

How would you describe what love feels like? Is is a warm fuzzy feeling? A constant happiness? Whatever your description of love is, the emotions around it are typically quite positive. When I think of love, pictures of smiling faces, the color red and warmth come into my mind along with an overwhelming feeling of comfort and contentment. If I were to picture my life without the feeling of love, I think a vital natural human component would be missing. The topic of love and its importance within the life of all human beings, especially the life of a child, is presented in Lois Lowry's The Giver. Oblivious to the notion of love until he experiences it for the first time, Jonas instantly connects with his feelings as he "liked the feeling of love" and felt "a little more complete" (126). Jonas' entire world is shifted upside down, particularly his relationship with his family, after becoming aware of the concept of love.

I recognize that not all children may be loved by their parents but Lowry argues that love from a parent is not the only form of love that a child can learn from and model off of. Readers follow Jonas through his questioning of his parents' love for him and their refusal to answer a concept that does not qualify as "precise language" (127). Now aware of what love feels like and how it should be exemplified in a family dynamic, Jonas is crushed by his parents response. I think most people would agree that the thought of having a parent(s) refuse to express their love for you is devestating. It is after this conversation that Jonas realizes he is not part of a 'loving' family. Desperately searching for the love he so badly wants to feel and give to others, Jonas forms a very strong relationship with Gabe.

It is through his relationship with Gabe that Jonas understands what love is and the lengths that people will go to for those that they love. Lowry's portrayal of a family love that does not fit a mold of the cookie cutter family (mom, dad, son, daughter) is similar to that of Park's in A Single Shard. Tree Ear learns, understands and demonstrates true family love through his relationship with Crane Man. Park and Lowry both make the point that to know and understand love only takes one person. It does not have to be a parent or family member but someone that an individual feels that warm fuzzy feeling or constant happiness aroused within themselves. In choosing to release all of the memories into the community, Jonas represents one of my favorite quotes - "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."

Life: A Journey with Obstacles

Life is two things, an obstacle and a journey. These two things undoubtedly lie at the center of Linda Sue Park's A Single Shard. It is through Tree-Ear's relationships and experiences that a true portrayal of "life" is exhibited in a very meaningful and inspirational way for children. As we have read and discussed the idea of a parentless child/hero, it is through Tree-Ear's character that the idea of a hero is seen in the purest and most genuine form. While Tree-Ear does not face the same types of dilemmas and struggles of a typical twenty-first century child, the lessons he learns and the harsh realities he must accept are perfect models for children to be able to relate to.

There is no question that Tree-Ear's life has many obstacles. However, these obstacles are presented as just that- obstacles. Tree-Ear does not view setbacks or disadvantages (being an orphan, living under a bridge, having no guarantee of a meal, etc.) as barriers in the progression for a better life. Rather, Tree-Ear takes every obstacle he faces as something that can bring the smallest ounce of happiness or positive component to his life. The living conditions and lack of food are a constant battle that Tree-Ear describes but always made out to be "ok" whether because of hard work with Min or the fatherly relationship he has from/with Crane-man. The work with Min proves to be his biggest obstacle as Min is very cold and unappreciative of Tree-Ear's hard work for so long. The depiction of such obstacles to be taken as character building rather than character preventing, for lack of a better word, is the argument Park's is making about how children should handle their own obstacles and struggles. Projecting onto children the idea of a positive, mature outlook is the ideal way literature should strive to influence young readers.

The idea of life as a journey is exemplified through Tree-Ear's physical journey to Songdo along with a personal journey within. The incorporation of a young child going on a journey through children's literature is, like the presentation of universal obstacles that every child faces, something that Park's touches on successfully. Tree-Ear's journey is one not pre-destined like other heroes we have read about but one that centers of a young boy accepting an obstacle in hopes of helping others. It is through Tree-Ear's journey's that a true hero is born. Park's honest depiction of real "life" is a breath of fresh air. Of all of the books we have read so far, A Single Shard is the closest to an ideal model of lessons that children of today should look to for answers.

Peter Pan: Encouraging Children To Embrace The Inevitable

On the walk to my car after class today I pondered a question that centered as the focus of our class discussion but was never blatantly asked: What would life be like if children never had to grow up? Yes, I know that Peter Pan may not be the most idealized version of a child permanently stuck in the innocent joys and innocence of children but he did challenge me to wonder what my life would be like if I never grew up. What would you be like if you never matured out of the age range of 5-8? Don't you hear people all the time wish they were pack in Kindergarden taking naps, enjoying recess and living the life free of "adult" worries? I believe J.M. Barrie is challenging his readers (adults and children alike) to fantasize and question what their lives would be like if, like Peter Pan, they did not have to grow up.

I have plenty of days where the idea of being a child again seems more than appealing. As children grow up and battle through difficult situations and sad experiences, they enter into a world much less sympathetic and much more problematic. Each day of a child's life brings challenges that shape their beliefs and ultimately the adult person they will evolve into. As children, individuals are able to live life without the obvious adult dilemmas (job, money, taxes, significant others, etc.), as well as a life encouraged to dream, image, question and ponder. For me, the idea of permanently living at age 6 initially seems awesome, but once I really think about it, it would be the cruelest punishment. However, I have to take into consideration the fact that I do know what life beyond age 5 or 6 is like so, obviously, the thought of never growing up scares me. But after hearing Shawn (sp?) and Mary's "children's" perspectives today in class, young children reading Peter Pan would think living his lifestyle permanently as a child is much more appealing than I would.

Barrie's portrayal of Peter Pan living his entire life as a child seems like a dream to some readers, while to others it seems like a nightmare. Two completely different perspectives on the subject forces readers to evaluate why they hold the perspective that they do on this issue. Would young children not want to grow up because they are so happy being a child or because they fear what being an adult will be like from watching the adults around them? If Peter Pan's inability to remember his friends, loved ones and important experiences are not enough to convince young readers to look forward to the life journey ahead of them, take Woody Harrelson's advice - "A grownup is just a child with layers on."

Yes, The Child Knows Best

It is only after our class period today that I was able to pinpoint why Leguin’s A Wizard of Earthsea did not win me over. I have come to realize that I am not fully able to transport back and forth from a child’s mindset and my current reading level of a college student along with an inability to connect with a 1960s high fantasy novel in comparison with more recent high fantasy renditions. Obviously, the comparison with Harry Potter was hard to disregard while following Ged’s journey after entering the wizard world and the unexpected trials and tribulations he endures with the magical journey of Harry Potter and his time at Hogwarts.


I have to be honest, right after I finished reading, I put the book on my bedside table and stayed in bed for a good ten minutes just thinking about the text. What was missing? Why was I consciously aware of the fact that I was never truly pulled in? What would children of today think? The last question really came into play during my overall reflection and I was glad to see it addressed today in class. Sarah’s conviction of Ged as a hero she didn’t really like because he really only cared about himself gave just one insightful opinion that reassured my own feelings of uneasiness with the book. While some may argue that Ged is the perfect example of a high fantasy hero, I stand by a child’s innocent insight as I believe it may be the most telling of all.

Hello! My name is Andrea Edmundson and I am currently a Junior English/History double major here at TCU. I have one older brother (Philip, 23) and one younger sister (Caroline, 15). I was born and raised in Houston, Texas and thoroughly enjoy the hot summers we experience living by the pool and spending time outdoors.

I would have to say that my favorite children's book would be E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan. Growing up with an older brother, my book collection was always filled of books he had read and passed down to me. The book took on an important role in bringing the then four members of my family (my sister was yet to arrive) closer together through family reading of the book. We even ventured to purchase the book on tape to listen to and take with us as we embarked on the two day drive from Houston to Colorado for vacation during many summers. It was not only the characters that were brought to life through voice that made the book a personal favorite as it was the fact my family spent time enjoying it all together.